Hey guys! These chapters are going to be short, but I hope they will show what I have in mind. I honestly think that despite the heart ache and lack of love Gail has felt from her mother, I think that Elaine Peck is someone who, when it slaps her in the face, can admit her mistakes and not throw it in others faces, at least not for long. So here is my attempt. ENJOY CHAPTER! xx JES!
"Steven! Steven!"
That's all that was heard echoing down the white hollow halls. The desperation and need strangled in the name wrenched at her heart and tore the air from her lungs. That voice was the one of her childhood, the one that she had conjured to make her feel wanted, yet it was still not calling her name.
Her hand gripped tighter to the one she was holding and her eyes lay on the brother, whose name was being beckoned. As he stood up, with Traci by his side, he walked over to her leading the body of the voice of their mother to her and Holly.
Gail watched as her mother's eyes found her and holly, and she just yanked Gail out from her seat with force taking everyone in the waiting room by surprise. Gail's hand was pulled from Holly's as she was forcefully placed in front of her mother to be stood as if on judgment days with her brother.
Side by side, unflinching yet wavering in conviction, both siblings sought to find what brought the matriarch of their so-called 'family' to the hospital. Her white shirt, crisp uniform and red hair were flawless, as if nothing of consequence had occurred in the past 24 hours, but Gail looked harder, behind the polished suit, and makeup she saw something she remembers from the mirror, from before her first as a rookie, her UC assignment, or everyday since Perrick; Fear.
There was fear in her mother's eyes. This time it wasn't just because of a long undercover stint Steve was on, or a promotion she (Elaine) might not get, it was directed toward BOTH her son and DAUGHTER.
Gail would gladly share her mothers concern. It's something she never thought she would ever receive.
"What are you doing here?" The words were direct but not harsh. She needed to know why she was standing in front of her mother, why when she was actually a patient here she hadn't seen her, but now as Gail is in one piece, here she stands.
"I needed to make sure my babies were okay."
The words were like any other political spin her mother could have spewed but there was something different to the way she held their gaze and how close she was to them. Normally, Gail found her mother's attention in more places than just in the moment of the conversation they'd be having. Always knowing her surroundings; be aware of what's around you, so you know WHO is always around you. But here, now, she never looked away. Concern. Fear. Love. This was new.
Not until her head was behind her children's, when she embraced them in a hug, did her attentions fall on the brunette that had been behind her children. That's when the way Holly was looking at Gail caught her attention. That's when the proximity of Holly to Gail, since Gail was now back sitting with her, meant something to her. She saw it immediately. And she saw that Gail didn't see it. Gail didn't notice it. How could someone see what they weren't looking at? Elaine thought.
Elaine sat with the rest of the15th division, really with her son and daughter, watching and waiting as they comforted and were comforted by the people in their lives. For once she was just going to be a spectator of their lives rather than a coach.